Wilson's
Storm-petrel is reported to be one of the world's most numerous
seabirds. Despite working at sea I've only enountered this species on a
couple of jobs. Difficult enough to see it is even harder to photograph
- showing itself at night or at first light and moving very fast -
often on a wildly zig-zagging course. They obviously show better on
pelagic trips where the vessel can stop to "chum". They seem to be
attracted to the wake of vessel where they pick small prey items out of
the wash....

Above
and below -
birds seen offshore off Gabon, late June - early July 2010

For
more picutres of WIlson's Petrel in flight see the Offshore
Gabon page here.

The pictures below taken off NW
Australia (Pluto Field), 07 December 2005. The bird had come onboard
and was found
struggling to get out of an equipment store. After a few very quick
photos it was released. The species was seen regularly in small numbers
at night
and occasionally around dusk between 04 and
07 December around position S 19° 55, E 115° 12'.

The species seems to be quite regular in the area judging by Royal
Naval Birdwatching Society observations and reports I have been sent.
For more details of other birds and wildlife seen on this trip follow this link.